Hydrostatic pulling tool for wells



April 29, 1952 w. SMITH ET AL 2,595,014

HYDROSTATIC PULLING TOOL FOR WELLS Filed Nov. 28, 1949 -2 SHEETS-SHEET 1ll 42 H H 58 55 96 I 26 2 5,5 m 59 I HI i; a 5 F g I 62 3 l l as J \/124 H 78.

f '79 l i 59 75 I I I I 1; 76 I l I Fl .6 3e 9 8/ 3 LESTER. w SMITH LESTER W.-5M|TH,J1:

April 29, 1952 L; w. SMITH ET AL 2,595,014

HYDROSTATIC PULLING TOOL FOR WELLS Filed NOV. 28, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IH iiii Fig.9

awn/Mom LESTERMSMITH LESTER W.$MlTH,Jr.

Fig.8 f )6 Patented Apr. 29, 1952 U N I TED IS TAT'ES .TEN T OF E ICELester W. Smith and Lester'W. Smith, J12, Corpus Christi, Tex.

Appiication November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,863

'8 Claims. '1

This invention relates to a pulling tool which is adapted'to be anchoredinthe casing of a well bore and which is adapted to pullupwardon afishing tool connected to the lower end of the pulling tool when thefishing tool inturn is connected to a lodged object in the well.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pulling tool which isadapted to be anchored in the casing of a well bore and which may'have afishing tool connected ,to the lower end thereof and whichmay pull onthe fishing tool, which, inturn, is connected to 'alodged object.

It is another object of this invention to :providea pulling tool of thisclass which employs the hydrostatic pressure of the Well to abet thepulling operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulling toolof thisclass which'is adapted for connection to a tubular .string thereabove,so that the upward movement .of the tubular string may create a vacuum.within the pulling tool to be opposed by-the hydrostatic pressure'inthe Well.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pulling tool ofthisclass which may be designed so that the pull exerted on a lodged.object thereby is multiplied by the pull exerted at the top of the wellupon the tubular string to whichthe pulling tool is connected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pulling tool ,ofthis class which has :slips therein adapted to anchor the tool in thewell casing and which is adapted to break the contact of the slips withthe casing when it may be desired to move the tool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulling tool of thisclass which is adapted for connection to a lifting means thereabove, sothat upward movement of the lifting means may create a vacuum within thepulling tool to be opposed by the hydrostatic pressure in the well.

It is stilla further object of this invention to provide a pulling toolof this class which utilizes the contraction of a stretched pipe stringto provide an excessive up-jarring force to dislodge an object connectedtherebe'low when the vacuum in the tool is broken.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pulling toolof this class which is adapted to be employed with .a grapple, spear, orany other type of fishing tool which may be employed to grasp a lodgedobject.

Other and further objects of this invention will be obvious when thespecification is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partinsection; showing the upper :part of thetool as it is lowered Fig. 5 is ascctional plan view taken along line5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig.6 is 'a-sectionalplan view-taken along line 6-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an elevation, part :in section, of the upper part of the toolshowing'it in the process of lifting;

Fig. 8 is anelevation of the central portion of the tool, part insection, showing it in the process of lifting;

Fig. 9 is an elevation, part in section, showing the lower part of thetool and aspear attached thereto in the process of lifting.

The tool I is adapted for connection to a tubular string 2 by means ofthe cap 3, which is threadable onto the end 4 of the tubular string andwhich has'a'threaded box 5 therein to receive the threaded end 6 of ahexagonal piston rod I. The piston rod 5 has a hollow bore '8therethrough, and a check valve H9 in the bore 8 at the upper endthereof, and a piston IE on the lower end thereof. This piston rod 1 isslidable in the cap I l of the body l2 of the tool, which has thehousing 2! as the upper element thereof; the cap 1 I hasa hole l3therethrough, of hexagonal cross section, to receive the rod 1.

The housing 2i has ports M through its walls centrally thereof, andadditional ports [5 through the walls thereof substantially adjacent thecap II. The housing 2i, in turn, is connected to a plug ll, as bythreads Hi. The plug H has a bore t8 therethrough and is threaded at H?to receive the threaded pin 2t, which is the upper element of themandrel assembly. Below the pin 29 and connected thereto, there is athreaded section 24 which terminates in the collar 25; and below thecollar 2% the tube 21' extends to the collar 2%. The sleeve 2H3,comprising the wedge segments 3i and 3-2 and the base segment 33, isfitted around the tube 2'! and rigidly connected between the collars 26and 28.

The compartmented cylinder 35 is threaded at 36 to thebase segment 33,and this cylinder comprises in sequence the tube section 31, which formsthe compartment 38; the tube section 39, which is threaded into the tubesection 31 and which forms the compartment 4|; and the tube section 42,which is threaded into the tube section 39 and which forms thecompartment 43. The base plug 44 is threaded onto the tube section 42 toclose the cylinder 35.

A piston rod 45, which has the bore 46 therethrough, has the piston 5|thereon within the compartment 38; the piston 52 thereon, within thecompartment 4|; and the piston 53 thereon, within the compartment 43.There is a passage 51 in the piston 52 which places the compartment 4|in communication with the bore 46; and the passage 58 in the piston 53places the compartment 43 in communication with the bore 4'5. The shaft59, of hexagonal cross section, is rigidly connected to the under sideof the piston 53 and extends through the hole 6| in the base plug 44 toits termination at the collar 02 and the pin 63.

A cage 65 extends around the sleeve 30, and, as shown in Fig. 4, has theslots 66 therein into which are fitted the slip segments 61, which havethe jaws G8 thereon. Retainer plates, as shown at 69, are mounted on thecage 65 to restrain the slip segments 61 to limited outward motion, asshown in Fig. 8. The cage 65 has slots 69 and 10 therein to receive theears 1| of the wing nut 12 which bear against the sides of the slots andrestrain the wing nut 12 from rotation as the threaded section 24 may berotated therein.

Any type of fishing tool, as a grapple, spear, or overshot, may bethreaded onto the pin 63; and in Fig. 3 a conventional spear 15 isshown. This type of spear is expanded by rotating the mandrel 11 thereofto the left so that the lug 18 thereon passes to the end of thehorizontal leg 19 of the J-slot 80. Then the downward drop of theweighted sleeve 5| permits the vertical leg' 02 of the J-slot to passdownward around the lug 18, with the result that the slips are movedoutwardly, in a well known and conventional manner, to grasp the sidesof an object, as shown in Fig. 9.

In operation, the tubular string 2 with the tool I thereon is loweredinto the well, the body I2 being suspended from the piston I3, as shownin Fig. 1. During this descent the pistons 5|, 52, and 53 substantiallyrest on the horizontal bulkheads ISS and I59 and the base plug 44,respectively.

If a spear 15 is employed, as shown in Fig. 3, the lug 18 thereof shouldride in the horizontal leg 19 of the J-slot as the spear descends. Whenthe shoulder 94 of the spear mandrel 11 strikes an object, as the top ofthe lodged object 95, shown broken off in Fig. 9, this indicates to theoperator at the top of the well that the spear 15 might be put intoengagement with this object which it is sought to retrieve. Left-handrotation is then imparted to the tubular string 2 at the top of thewell, and this rotation moves the spear mandrel 11 and the lug 10thereon to the bottom of the vertical leg 82 of the J-slot 80, andpermits the spear sleeve 8| to drop downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, toset the slips 15, as has been hereinabove described.

This left-hand rotation also moves the wing nut 1| upwardly on thethreaded section 24 as the ears 1| thereof ride in the slots 63 and 10,and brings the top surfaces 95 of the ears 1| into contact with the cageshoulders 91 at the top of the slots 59 and 10. Further left-handrotation moves the wing nut 1| upward on the threaded 4 section 24, andthis lifts the cage so that slip segments 61 carried thereby are movedoutwardly along the wedge segments 3| and 32 to set the slips to firmlygrip the casing I00.

With the body I2 anchored in the casing I00 and with the spear slips 10set in the fish or lodged object, the tubular string 2 is then loweredto position the piston I0 on the rod 1 at substantially the bottom ofthe chamber IOI within the housing 2|. The hydrostatic fluid in thechamber IOI below the ports I4, as well as the fluid in thecompartmented cylinder 35 therebelow, is generally forced upwardlythrough the bores 46, I8, and 8, and through the check valve ||0 intothe tubular string 2.

When the piston I0 rests substantially on the top I04 of the plug H thetubular string 2 is raised and the piston I0 moves upwardly and beginsto create a vacuum in the chamber IDI below the piston I0. This upwardmovement also creates vacuum in the compartment 38 above the piston 5|,and as passages 51 and 58 communicate with the bore 46, upward motion ofthe piston I0 also creates vacuum in the compartments 4| and 43.

The openings I05, I06, and I03 through the walls of tube sections 31,39, and 42, respectively, permit hydrostatic fluid from the well,exterior of the tool, to enter into the compartments, and the pressureof this hydrostatic fluid acts on the lower sides of the pistons 5|, 52,and 53. Ohviously, since there is only a vacuum or partial vacuum actingupon the upper side of these pistons to oppose the force of thehydrostatic pressure fluid, the piston moves upwardly with great liftingforce. This force measured in pressure in pounds per square inchmultiplied by the areas of the under sides of pistons 5| and 52 plus thetotal cross section area of the piston 53 amounts to a tremendous totallift in pounds.

It should be noticed that as the piston I0 moves upwardly, hydrostaticfluid which passes into the chamber IOI through the ports I4 and I5above the piston acts downwardly on the annular area surrounding the rodI1 on the top side of the piston I0. The reading of the weight indicatorat the top of the well then is determined by the weight of the tubularstring 2 plus the rod I and piston I0, plus the friction of the pistonI0 within the housing 2|, and plus the hydrostatic pressure multipliedby the cross-sectional area in inches of the annular area I01.

As the area I01, in design, may bear a definite ratio to the effectiveareas of the pistons 5|, 52, and 53, against which hydrostatic pressureworks, it can be seen that the total lifting force exerted by the tandemof pistons on the piston rod 45 may be a function or multiple of thelift indicated on the weight indicator at the top of the well.

This multiplied lifting force may loosen the fish or lodged object towhich the spear 15 is connected, in which case the tubular string 2,with the tool I, spear 15, and fish suspended therefrom, may be liftedfrom the well bore.

However, in case the lifting of the string 2 does not loosen the fish,the string 2 may then be rotated to the right to move the nut 1|downwardly to the bottom of slots 69 and 10, and further rotation causesit to push the cage 65 downwardly to loosen the contact of the slip jaws68 of the slip segments 61 with the casing I00. This right hand rotationshould also loosen the slip jaws 1B of the spear 15 from the fish.

In cases where the slip jaws 68 have become stuck to the casing 100 sothat the "slip. segments '61 do notretraet when the not ll gpushea thecage '65 downwardly, then a furtherupward pull may be exerted "onthestring 2 on-til the piston In uncovers the parts in to break thevacuum in the chamber m .and in :the upper parts :of compartments :38,4:1, and 3. .Duringithe-npplication of lifting stereo to ithezstring 2,o consider.-

able stretchingot the pipe thereof :willihave been accomplished. Whenthe vacuum :is broken, the pipe of the string -2 will immediately:undergo :a cont-inactive reaction and this will result dunner.- ing thepiston .10 =upwardly against :the cap-=15! of the housing 21 with-aviolentiimpact.

This impact, and the possible '-;contmned contraction of the pipeoffline-string '21., "will tchf ittt the mandrel and wedge sections 3"!and 3! thereof upwardl to withdraw the slip segments .657 and jaws ":58from the eating all!!! so that they may dro dqwfi its the position or.iig. :2 under own weight. A A

After :the vacuum I is roken, an additim'ialiiapring effect is obtainedby the impact {of 118 pistons 5.1, 52,, and-53, on *themartitififis 408and 1-09 and theba'se plugw-gzrespeotiitely.

It is herein nomted out that whereas in the specification hereinabovc.=:a itublila-r stxi'ng considered as the means "below which "the tool isconnected, this invention is not thus limi d, and 'a lifting means '2need -not =neoessarilybe tubules and may :be solid above the men-t it!where he fluid from the bore 8 discharges nto'the space I I2 within theliftingmeans.

Broadly this invention considers saprilling tool whereby the list appled at the'top of the well to release an object lodged thereinmaybemuitiplied by the employment iof'zthe' hydnest-atioduid pressure:of the well when such is oppo d by created vacuum spaces.

Whatds claimed a tubular string employed in bones; tool comprising, a"housing, connection means between :Sa-id housing and :said string andzrotat able therewith, a hollow :mandnel connected to the lower rend ofsaid housing, a compattmen ed cylinder connected to the lower end ofsaid mandrel, hollow pistonmeans including a piston operable in eachcompartment and providing communication between the piston means boreand each compantmenteabove the piston therein, said piston meansextending below said cylinder for connection to means for grasping anobject lodgedin the well, an opening in each comparti ment to admitpressure fluid from the well bore, slip means on said mandrel operableupon rotation of said string to extend and grasp said well bore wall,said connection means including hollow piston means operable within saidhousing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum in the upper partof each compartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through"i said openings opposite the vacuum side of each compartment wherebythe liftingforce applied to said string at the top of the well ismultiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

2. A pulling tool for operation with and below a tubular string employedin well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection means betweensaid body and said string and rotatable therewith, compartments in thelower end of said body, hollow piston means including a piston operablein each compartment and providing communication between the piston meansbore and each compartment above the piston therein,

said piston means extending below saidcbody dorconnection to means forgrasping an object lodged in the well here, an opening in each com-;partment to :admit pressure :fiuld from the well 1 fiboregslip means onsaid body operable upon rotation .or said string to grasp said wellbore-wall, g'said connection means including hollow piston :meansoperable within aid housing upon the lifting of said string to pullvacuum in the upper 10 part of each compartment while pressure fluid,aenters each compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum vsideof each compartment whereby the lifting force applied to -said str ing"T atthe top of the well is multiplied in the lifting 1 :forceapplied tothe lodged object.

M :3. .Apnlling tool for operation with and below 5a tubularstringemployed in well bores,-said tool *homprising, .a :body, connectionmeans between '{lsaid body and said string and rotatable there with,compartments in the lower end of saidbody, fhollow zpiston meansincluding a piston operable "ineach compartment and providingcommunicate -,tion between the piston means bore and each compartmentabove-the piston therein, said piston means extending :below :said bodyfor connection itoameans for grasping an object lodged the wwell here,:an opening in each compartment admit pressure fluid from :the wellbore, slip jmeans -.0n said body operable upon rotation of 1said strlngto grasp said well :bore wall, a check fva-ltre inisaid connection-meansto permitpressure fiuid topass :therethrough into said string, saidconnection .means including hollow piston means cperaible within saidhousing upon the lifting of '5""said;string;to pull vacuum :in the upperpart ot achzcompartment while pressure -fiuid renters each ompartmentthrough said opening pnosite the fvacu-um side of each compartmentwhereby the lifting force applied to said string at thettop of .,-theavellisimul-ti lied in the liftin force an lied 1- ipuiling toolforoperation with -:and below p g to the lodged :obiect.

' pulling tool for operation with and below atubularstring employed inwell ibores, said tool licomprlsing, :a body, connection means betweensaidfbody and said string and rotatable there "hollow piston meansincluding-a piston operable ineach compartment and providing communica-,tion between the piston means bore and each 5 compartment above thepiston thereinsaldpiston means extending ibelow said body for connectionto means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in,each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, slip meanson said body operable upon rotation of 'said string to grasp said wellbore wall, said connection means including hollow piston means 1operable within said housing upon the lifting of said string to pullvacuum in the upper part of 0 each compartment while pressure fluidenters each compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum side ofeach compartment whereby a the lifting force applied to said string atthe top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to thelodged object, there being ports in said body wall to break the vacuumwhen said second hollow piston means is lifted thereabove. 5. A pullingtool for operation with and below a tubular string employed in wellbores, said tool 7Q comprising, a body, connection means between saidbody and said string and rotatable therewith, compartments in the lowerend of said body,

in each compartment and providing communication'bctwee'n the piston-means bore and each with, compartments in the "lower end of :said body,

hollow piston means including a piston operable compartment above thepiston therein, said piston means extending below said body forconnection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, anopening in each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore,slip means on said body operable upon rotation of said string to graspsaid well bore wall, means on said body operable upon rotation ofsaid'string after said slips have been set to actuate the retraction ofsaid slips, said connection means including hollow piston means operablewithin said housing upon the lifting of said string to pull vacuum inthe upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enters eachcompartment through said opening opposite'the vacuum side of eachcompartment whereby the lifting force applied to said string at the topof the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to the lodgedobject.

6. A pulling tool for operation with and below a lifting means employedin well bores; said tool comprising, a body, connection means betweensaid body and said lifting means and-rotatable therewith, compartmentsin the lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a pistonoperable in each compartment and providing communication between thepiston means bore and each compartment above the piston therein, saidpiston means extending below said body for connection to means forgrasping an object lodged in the well bore, an opening in eachcompartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore, means on saidbody operable upon rotation of said lifting means to grasp said'wellbore wall, said connection means including hollow piston means operablewithin said housing upon the lifting of said lifting means to pullvacuum-in the upper part of each compartment while pressure fluid enterseach compartment through said opening opposite the vacuum side of eachcompartment whereby the lifting force applied to'said lifting means atthe top of the well is multiplied in the lifting force applied to thelodged object.

'7. A pulling tool for operati'cn'with. and below a lifting meansemployed in well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection meansbetween said body and said lifting means and rotatable therewith,compartments in the lower end of said body, hollow piston meansincluding a piston operable in each compartment and providingcommunication between the piston means bore and each compartment abovethe piston therein, said piston means extendingbelow said body forconnection to means for grasping an object lodged in the well bore, anopening in each compartment to admit pressure fluid from the well bore,slip means-0n said body operable upon rotation ofsaid lifting meanstograsp said well bore wall, said connection means including hollowpiston-means operable within said housing, the lowering of-xsaid liftingmeans after the setting of said slip means/forcing said hollow pistonmeans downwardly in saidhousing to transfer fluid upwardly'into'said'lifting means, valve means for preventing the return of fluid thustransferred upon the lifting of said lifting means, the lifting ofsaid'lifting means thereafter creating vacuum in the upper part of eachcompartment while pressure fluid enters each compartment through saidopeningopposite the vacuum side of each compartment whereby the liftingforce applied to said lifting means at the top of the well is multiplied'in the lifting force applied to the lodged object.

8. pulling tool for operation with and below a tubular string employedin well bores, said tool comprising, a body, connection means betweensaid body and said string and rotatable therewith, compartment means inthe lower end of said body, hollow piston means including a pistonoperable in said compartment means, means providing communicationbetween the piston means bore and said compartment means above thepiston therein, said piston means extending below said bodyforconnection to means for grasping an object lodged in'the well bore,-opening means in said'comp'artnfent' means to admit pressure fluid fromthe welllbore, slip means on said body operably upon rotationof "saidstring to grasp said well bore wall, said connection means includinghollowpiston means operable within said housing upon the lifting ofsaid'string to pull vacuum in the upper part "of each compartment whilepressure fluid enters said compartment means through said opening meansopposite the vacuum side thereof wliereby the lifting force applied tosaid string at-th'e top of the well is multiplied in the lifting" forceapplied to the lodged object.

' LESTER W. SMITH.

LESTER w. SMITH, JR.

No references cited.

